The giant golf ball was found covered in graffiti, which could provide clues as to who took the items, police said.

Other stolen items included a giant pair of dark blue glasses and a huge black anvil with hammer.

Some of the props, worth $55,000 (£35,000), had been broken.

Box office

The film's cast also includes Alec Baldwin. He will play next-door neighbour Lawrence Quinn.

The film will use characters from the original book, published in 1957, together with new ones.

Tim Allen was originally cast in the title role, but he had to step down due to other work commitments.

A huge star in the US thanks to his role in TV comedy Home Improvement, he was the voice of Buzz Lightyear in the 1997 cartoon.

The Cat in the Hat follows two children who invite the cat into their home while their mother is out - only to watch him run riot playing games.

When Myers' new role was announced, the star said: "It's great fun to be in a children's movie and it's an honour to be asked to be in the world of Dr Seuss."

The film's producer Brian Grazer said: "Dr Seuss' The Cat In The Hat offers a wealth of opportunity to bring something really special to the screen, and it offers the perfect showcase for the incredibly gifted Mike Myers."

The adaptation of Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, starring Jim Carrey, was a huge hit, particularly in the US where it topped box office charts in the run-up to Christmas 2000.